Bangor's Scott Heckman has become the latest headliner at the Sands

He has won seven straight fights, owns a record of 15-3 and is in the best shape of his life entering June 8 card at Sands.

Scott Heckman of Bangor has won his last seven bouts. (DONNA FISHER, MORNING CALL…)

April 16, 2013|By Keith Groller, Of The Morning Call

It was a scene straight out of one the "Rocky" movies.

When Scott "The Animal" Heckman defeated Larry DiGuilio on March 23 at the Sands Bethlehem Event Center, he raised his hand in victory inside the cage and almost everyone in the crowd simultaneously erupted with chants of "UFC!" "UFC!"

"We did a video of it for a reality TV show and it'll give you chills just watching it," said Gerald Grube, Heckman's agent and longtime friend. "The production crew captured the whole moment. It was really neat."

UFC, of course, stands for Ultimate Fighting Championship, the top level in the sport of mixed martial arts.

It's where Heckman wants to be and where he appears headed after winning his first championship with the victory over DiGuilio for his seventh straight win.

Heckman, a 28-year-old Bangor High graduate, won the XFE featherweight title — his "first legit title" he said — in the feature attraction at the Sands.

Bigger and better things seem to be in store for Heckman, who has a career record of 15-3 and has become a headliner at the Sands, where hundreds of his fans and friends can come and see him star in one of the country's fastest-growing sports.

"You couldn't plan a moment like what happened after that last fight," Heckman said. "When I won, I raised my hand and the crowd went wild. They know I am at a point where I am so close to going to the UFC. Right now, it's just a waiting game. I've proven I belong in the UFC."

Heckman has already lined up another fight at the Sands. On June 8, he will defend his XFE title against Dustin "The Beast" Neace in what figures to be one of the toughest challenges of his career.

"Neace is an ex-UFC fighter who was on the 'Ultimate Fighter Season 14' [on Spike TV] and this is the most important fight for me," Heckman said. "I'm trying to get my mind right for it. It's the Beast vs. the Animal and the Animal always wins."

Heckman said that he's again the headliner on June 8 and it's not just because he's a local product.

Because of his swarming, hustling style, Heckman's fights are attractions full of action.

Heckman also trains with local boxing star Ronald Cruz of Bethlehem, another Sands headliner, and they know it's all about conditioning and putting on great shows.

"I'm in phenomenal shape … the best of my life … and I'm blessed to be training at the AMA Fight Club in New Jersey where I've transformed my fighting game," Heckman said. "I feel like I've really grown as a fighter. I've become more diverse, more athletic, just a better fighter and I think that's one of the reasons I've been able to headline these cards because it's easy for the promoter.

"I bring a huge crowd and put on a great fight. It's a win-win for everyone; for them and for me."

Grube, who has known Heckman for a decade since he tried to recruit him to wrestle at King's College, said the former Slaters football player and wrestler has improved tremendously in recent years.

"He is 10 times the fighter he was when I first saw him," Grube said. "He has really progressed since joining AMA, which is headed by Mike Constantino, one of the best trainers in the business. He has really put together a dream team with his training staff."

Grube, a Pius X graduate who lives in Nazareth, believes the June 8 fight against Neace could be a game-changer for Heckman.

"He has been preparing for a fight like this since he started," Grube said. "He has made the commitment and given himself to this sport full-time. He has surrounded himself with a great people and he has been on a long winning streak. He is really knocking on the door of UFC.

"I can't tell you how close he is without breaching some kind of confidential agreement, but he's close. … very, very close."

But Grube said that even as he becomes bigger in the sport, Heckman maintains a down-to-earth, humble mentality.

Grube told a story that exemplifies that Heckman hasn't forgotten where he has come from.

"The day of his last fight was my son Evan's second birthday party," Grube said. "Do you know that Scott came to Evan's birthday party? On what was one of the biggest days of his life, Scott came to our house and spent two hours with my family.

"He comes to my other son Gerald's football games all the time and always tries to show the kids that he's supportive and cares about them. That's the kind of guy he is."

Heckman will add to his own family soon after the June 8 fight.

"A week after that fight I'm going to Punta Cana to marry my best friend," Heckman said. "She [Sara Giovanni of Nazareth] and I have known each other for nine years and have been together for the last three. She has supported me through all of this. We're looking forward to getting away from society, and from fighting for a little while and have a dream-type of wedding."

And then Heckman will continue the wait for that call from the UFC that will make another of his dreams come true.

HECKMAN FILE

Age: 28

Height: 5-foot-8

Weight: 145 pounds

First pro fight: April 10, 2010

Record: 15-3

Wins by knockout: One

Wins by submission: 11

Wins by decision: 3.

Next fight: June 8 vs. Dustin "The Beast Neace, who has career record of 43-23.